All manufacturers make seatbelt extenders, just ask the guy at the parts counter. Far safer IMO.

There is a fine line about disabling the SRS system, I personally would never do it. If you do, please be careful, there is a pyrotechnic device (the squib) that causes everything to happen. SRS systems utilize yellow sheathed wires as a warning to technicians. Be sure to use a ground tether and ground yourself to the chassis, a static spark will cause the system to go off. You may have "next generation" or "second generation" air bags, which inflate at a depowered level during lighter collisions. The old single stage (aka "full power") air bags are the more potent of the two.

 

Yup, not an OBS airbag in your pics. Don't try the resistor as I suggested, it probably won't work on that truck. What you want is the Rotunda Airbag Simulator for your year vehicle. If you use the simulator you of course have to plug the airbag monitor (blue box) back in for the light to go out.

Or just pull the bulb. Yes, you should at least tell the next owner there is no airbag if you decide to sell it.

BlkF250HD, yes there are newer airbags that inflate at reduced power, but I seriously doubt if you'd be able to tell the difference between them. It still has only a few milliseconds to react, so it's still gotta be fast.

 

Gentlemen,
First: Thank you. I have received more help in this thread than in any other place I've asked; Yes, I removed the bulb, blue box disconnected, all quiet now.

the way I disabled the system, everything can be put back together as it was, I believe in being able to reverse any modification, for example, if I were to sell the Aerostar, so no issues there.

what I did was to install an Expedition leather steering wheel in my Aerostar; The original Aerostar steering wheel was removed intact including its airbag; I did remove the airbag from the Expedition steering wheel, which is the one I am using now. Frankly I would not go back to the Aerostar steering wheel, but it is preserved if I sell the van, which I doubt, this is my 3rd Aerostar.

here's a picture of the finished Expedition steering wheel installation; I managed to connect the Cruise Control wires and the Cruise works fine in every way now. The Aerostar Cruise controls are the same as in the Expedition steering wheel but the wires are different colors, so it took some experimenting. Also attached are other pictures of my Aerostar, I've added Fog and Driving lights with separate dash switches, painted the grille and emblems same color as the body for a custom look;

the only difference in the Expedition Cruise controls is that they are lighted at night with the headlights switch; The Aerostar did not have lighted Cruise control switches; So now I'm trying to figure out how to run a wire through the clockspring or steering column so the cruise controls light up with the lights at night.

 

Wow, that's a clean Aerostar. They're all but extinct by me, and the ones that are on the road are rotboxes. The white looks real nice.

 

Nice van! Good job on the swap, too. I think that the Aerostar was the last small van made with real instruments including an oil pressure gauge... even if it is a dummy gauge. Now all the minivans are front wheel drive junk with maybe a couple gauges for fuel and temp.

You can still see an Aerostar here and there round here... ain't seen one in as good a shape as yours though. Most of them here are beat up work vans.

 

thank you, you got it guys, it's a last year 1997, 1-owner van, (I'm the second owner now). I searched the entire State of Florida looking for one in mint condition until I found it, it was sitting, little use, original paint, interior, it's totally clean underneath, etc.

my next mod is to install an F-150 instrument cluster which is a direct swap but has a tachometer in it, others have done it already. I'm a musician and I travel with my equipment to go play at weddings and parties, the Aerostar has the room for everything, the 4.0 engine has great power, (K & N air filter too), that van rides like a luxury car. It's my third Aerostar since 1986.

I would never buy a front-wheel drive anything, been there, done that, never again. my two Jags and the Aerostar are rear-wheel drive.